Sorry you don't see your mom as much as you like. I make an effort to see my mom (I'm nearly 62 and she's nearly 86) because I don't know how much longer I'll have her around. But she is still a dysfunctional mother--very much all about herself, doesn't listen to me much, favors my sisters and brothers over me, etc. I am nice to her, and see her in small doses, an hour or two at a time. She does live nearly two hours away. That way I still enjoy seeing her for a bit. Too much of her wears on me and feeds my depression.

Then there is the issue of never having had children, even though I wanted to. So mother's day is hard for me too. I try to do something nice for someone else--saw an 80-plus year old friend with no children and gave her a mother's day card and flowers from her cat. She lives in as assisted living facility with him. I suspected many of the other residents would be getting visits from children, etc. and it might be a sad day for her. To my surprise, by 1:30 PM, when we left, she was the only one who had received a visitor! And she was the only resident who had received a visitor the day before! She did greatly enjoy the visit, the card, and the flowers. And we sat with her while she ate her dinner--she said it was the best meal she had ever eaten at that facility. So I enjoyed mother's day for the helping of others, even though it is a sad day for me.

Sounds like you did much the same--helped your friend help her mother. That sounds like an excellent day for you, even though it is sad for other reasons. You did good, girl--heaping praise here! And you are also doing well to realize what is causing you sadness. It helps when we know ourselves and what distresses us, so we can face it or avoid it, or use compensating behaviors, like helping someone else as you did. Sending you hugs!